A walk through Minnekhada Regional Park Sunday Oct 4, 2009

Another nice sunny fall day and not wanting to sit at home and not being a NFL football junkie I headed out to the Tri-Cities to visit Minnekhada Regional Park - it is an interesting piece of BC history as it contains a Lodge once owned by a Lieutenant Governor of BC which sits on a bluff overlooking the Pitt River and Fraser River marsh lands but today I went to explore some of the other parts of this regional Park.

Check out this link for more info on the Park:

http://www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks_lscr/regionalparks/Pages/Minnekhada.aspx

This in pictures is the story of my approx. 5KM loop walk through the forests and marshes of the park.

Cheers

Dennis

A bike ride across the new Canada Line into Richmond Oct 3, 2009

One of the items on my outdoor to-do list before the weather turns nasty for the winter was to check out the bike ride across the new Canada Line bridge from the south foot of Cambie St over the North Arm of the Fraser to Richmond - so I packed the bike into the truck and drove to my starting point - it is a short ramp ride up to the main catwalk like double track across the bridge.

You get some great views of both looking towards Richmond and the Airport as well as back to Vancouver - on this day you could see the Lions in the far north distance sporting their first significant snowfall of the season.

After crossing the Bridge I head for the River Rock Casino boardwalk and views from there of the Marina and River. From there it's over the middle arm bridge and a ride through Burkeville and onto to the old or South Airport and some more views of the Fraser River.

Oh look it me - I return across the Middle Arm on the #2 Rd bridge - ride pass the Olympic Speed Skating Oval and it's art deco display and then back across the bridge to my truck.

In all about an 19 km ride under sunny but pleasant ride and with the usual winds that always seem to occur here.

Cheers

Dennis

Hike to Mt Seymour's Mystery Lake Sept 27, 2009

Wanting to get one more hike in before the weather turns cooler, showery I headed up to Mt Seymour to do a short loop hike called Mystery Lake - other than the fact that it is near the Mystery ski run I don't know why it is called that name as most of the other lakes in the Alpine have names like, First, Goldie, Flower etc.

Arriving a little after 10AM to a nearly vacant parking lot I hang my annual parking pass on the rear window and start up the gnarly, stony, rooty trail for the 1.1 KM climb to the Lake.

I pass a few people eating blueberries on the way to the Lake but have the Lake to myself - this is a popular swimming hole in the summer where people are know to swim au naturel - none of that today - after taking a few photos I have a couple of options for returning back to the tralhead - I decide on the longer loop that takes me up to the Brockton Chair where I turn left and head down the Mt. Seymour trail - this trail is busy with lots and I mean lots of people heading up to the peaks of Seymour.

While there was some bear scat on the trails there weren't any sightings.

When I got back to the parking lot just before noon - it was rapidly filling up with even more people lining up to pay for there parking.

It was an enjoyable hike - then it was off to lunch, gas up the truck since the price has fallen to 101.0 a liter and then home to relax.

Today is my birthday - haven't quite decided what to do - one thing on the list is to bike ride over the new Canada Line bridge across the Fraser and out to the Airport but i am not feeling to energetic this morning as I type this post.

Cheers

Dennis

A bike trip across the Lions Gate to Lonsdale Quay Saturday Sept 26, 2009

I awoke Saturday morning with a hang over - visited a friend the night before and the beer went down very smoothly so I was more determined as ever to get on the bike and due one of my favorite little trips - a ride over the Lions Gate Bridge and into Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

The trip starts with me riding down Hornby Street to the waterfront where the HAL Zuiderdam was berthed - it is one of the last of the regular homeported ships to leave Vancouver this year.

Hard to believe that the cruise ship season is coming to an end - Monday friends will return from Alaska - they haven't had the greatest of weather according to text messages they have been sending.

Also a great view from the Bridge of Stanley Park and the downtown peninsula - was battling the sun a bit on this photo.

A Rocky Mountaineer engine parked an idling near the entrance to Lonsdale Quay.

A look at the Mosquito Creek Marina from the Spirit Trail in North Vancouver.

This is a luxury yacht that was berthed at the Quay - what is different is that there is a helicopter mounted on the ship.

Hope you have enjoyed these posts - with one more day of sun I am heading out for a little hike on Mount Seymour and will post that later today.

Cheers

Dennis

A bike ride to QE Park with a few stops along the way - Friday Sept 25, 2009

Friday see me on the bike for a right up the Cypress bike route to the Midtown or 37th Ave east west route and then into QE Park before heading down the Ontario route to False Creek and home on the Seaside route.

Because of the recent warm weather I have really noticed a lot of fall colors - they are not great in this region anyway but there is usually some color - but I did notice a few displays and have included them in this photo essay.

I also wanted to stop at my old high school Alma mater - Vancouver College -to see the new all weather field that is to be officially christened this weekend and since it is only a two block detour it was easy to pass by.

The field looks real good - as a private school - VC doesn't receive Capital funding from the government so this was all privately raised donations.

Finally reached QE Park - one of the highest points in the City and its spectacular views - there is a sunken garden and a conservatory there - the water fountain is new - they recently upgraded and expanded the reservoir that holds emergency water for the City and put in the shooting water display when they were finished with the project - a nice addition to the Park.

Before long it was time to get on the bike and go have lunch and then head home.

Next up - a bike trip to Lonsdale Quay.

Cheers

Dennis

Grouse and the Grizzlies - Coola and Grinder Sept 24, 2009

With the prospect of the current spell of good weather coming to an end I was determined to get out and enjoy it while it lasts so over the past three days that is what I have done - first stop is Grouse Mountain and a visit to my favorite two grizzlies bears - Coola and Grinder.

I needed to renew my annual Grouse Pass so this was also an excuse to head up the mountain to breathe in the mountain air.

But the trip up had some anxious moments as the Skyride stalled about a minute from the second tower and we were there hanging in mid air - I didn't freaked - there were lots of people on the car and the attendant was good at explaining how the back up systems were meant to work and before long - less than five minutes we were underway and into the upper terminal.

Once up top I took the short eco trail pass Blue Grouse Lake and one of the Zip line towers to the Bear's den where the boys were in a very playful mood and entertained the crowd for some time.

They are about two months away from hibernation - right now they are being given extra food but by late November they will stop feeding them which will tell their body that it's time go to sleep for the winter.

On the trip down the Skyride stopped again but this one was planned and I have had it happen before - there are two towers and they use them to check on the cable etc - essentially two workers will climb onto the top of the Skyride and strap themselves in and then ride to one of the towers - where they will unstrap and go about there work - when they are finished the Skyride will stop and they will re strap to the tram and head down to the lower terminal with the rest of us - this is quite the undertaking and not for the faint of heart.

It was a great day on the mountain - next up - a bike ride to QE Park

Cheers

Dennis